Rhinoceros beetle species all tend to look similar — except for the males’ elaborate horns. Those come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from long forks to sharp pincers. The males use the horns when they battle over females. A beetle wins when he flips his opponent off the ground or tree where they’re fighting.
But not all species use the same tactics in combat. The Japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus), for example, uses his pitchfork-like horn to pry and twist his enemy off a branch. A Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) has two horns, one longer than the other, which he employs in a pincer motion to squeeze and lift the other guy. And Golofa porteri beetles pry and push with their long, slender horns, as if they were wielding fencing swords on their heads.
Beetles with horns are some of the most fascinating insects in the animal kingdom. Found on every continent except Antarctica these beetles come in a huge range of shapes sizes, and colors. Their impressive horns give them a prehistoric, dinosaur-like appearance that captures people’s imaginations.
In this article we’ll take a closer look at these incredible bugs and explore what makes them so special. Whether you’re an insect enthusiast or just curious about these exotic-looking critters read on to learn more about beetles with horns!
What Are Beetles With Horns?
Beetles with horns belong to a subfamily of scarab beetles called Dynastinae, also known as rhinoceros beetles. There are over 1,500 species and 225 genera of rhinoceros beetles known to science.
The most distinguishing feature of these beetles is the horn-like projections on the males. The horns are located on the head and thorax and come in a wide range of shapes and sizes depending on the species. For example, the Atlas beetle has a single curved horn on its head, while the Hercules beetle has two long, pincer-like horns.
Females of most dynastid species lack horns entirely. At most they may have small bumps or tubercles where the male’s horns are located. The sole purpose of the male’s horns is for combat with other males over mating rights or to gain access to food sources.
Where Are They Found?
Beetles with horns have an extensive global range. They are found natively on every continent except Antarctica. Some of the places they inhabit include:
- North America – Genera like Dynastes, Strategus, and Xyloryctes
- South America – Genera like Golofa, Megasoma, and Phileurus
- Europe – Oryctes nasicornis is the European rhinoceros beetle
- Africa – Augosoma and Chelorrhina species
- Asia – Prominent genera include Allomyrina, Chalcosoma, Xylotrupes
- Australia/Oceania – Octodonta and Sphaenognathus beetles
Tropical and subtropical regions tend to have the greatest diversity of dynastid species. Rainforests in particular harbor an abundance of different horned beetles.
What Do They Eat?
Both the larvae and adult stages of rhinoceros beetles are herbivorous. The larvae feed on rotting wood from tree trunks and branches. Some will also feed on plant roots.
Adult beetles consume things like fruit, tree sap, nectar, and plant juices. Species like Oryctes rhinoceros are considered serious coconut palm pests, while others may attack sugarcane, banana trees, or avocados.
Interesting Facts About Beetles With Horns
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Only the male beetles have horns. Females do not.
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The size of a male beetle’s horn is a good indicator of its health and vitality.
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Rhinoceros beetles are among the strongest animals on Earth for their size. They can lift objects 850 times their weight!
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Atlas beetles have vestigial wings and cannot fly even though most horned beetles can.
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Large rhinoceros beetles like Megasoma actaeon can reach lengths of over 5 inches.
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Japanese rhinoceros beetles are a popular pet and gambling beetle in parts of Asia.
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Horns may be a sexually selected characteristic. Females choose males with the biggest horns as mates.
Why Do They Have Horns?
The horns play an important role in mating rituals and establishing dominance hierarchies between male beetles. When two males encounter each other, they engage in combat and try to flip each other over. The beetle with the larger and stronger horns usually wins these contests.
The winner gets access to food sources like tree sap as well as mating opportunities with nearby female beetles. Sometimes the battles can be fierce and result in injuries, but the horns themselves are not dangerous to humans.
Keeping Beetles as Pets
Several species of horned beetles have become popular as pets given their impressive size and unique appeal. Some beetles kept as pets include:
- Hercules beetles
- Rhinoceros beetles
- Stag beetles
- Goliath beetles
Rhinoceros beetles require spacious, well-ventilated terrariums with plenty of hiding places. Rotting wood should be provided as a food source. Gentle handling is recommended since they can be stressed by loud noises, predators, or other disturbances. With proper care, rhinoceros beetles can live 1-2 years in captivity.
Protecting Beetle Populations
Some rhinoceros beetle species have become threatened by deforestation and the loss of old trees and logs which their larvae depend on. Wherever possible, dead wood should be left undisturbed since it provides vital habitat. Preventing the overcollection of rare and exotic beetles for the pet trade is also important for conservation.
Raising awareness about these amazing insects is the first step! Hopefully this overview has provided some insight into the many wonders of beetles with horns. Their unique features and behaviors continue to fascinate people worldwide.
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Erin McCullough and colleagues at the University of Missoula in Montana had a theory that the shape of the beetles’ horns was best suited for each species’ specific fighting style, and ill-fitted for the others. So they built 3-D biomechanical models of the horns of three species of rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus, Dynastes hercules and Golofa porteri) and put them to the test. The results appear September 8 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Two Golofa porteri rhinoceros beetles lock horns in a fight. Coleoptera XXL/YouTube |
Each horn was subjected to three types of force: pressure from the top or from the side, and twisting. The tests revealed that each beetle horn experienced the least amount of stress and strain when the force matched the kind that species’ fighting style creates.
The researchers speculated that the key characteristic in the horns’ morphology is not the decorative bits, like a fork or serration, but the shape of the cross-section. An elliptical cross-section is best for a rod that is bent in a single direction, such as in pliers. A beam with a circular cross-section, such as a fencing sword, is best suited when bent unpredictably. And a triangular-shaped cross-section works best when a beam needs to resist bending and twisting.
Micro-CT scans of the beetle horns indicated that the shape of the horn’s cross-section does indeed reflect those differences in how the appendage moves during a fight. D. hercules is elliptical, G. porteri is circular, and T. dichotomus is triangular.
“Relatively minimal changes in the cross-sectional shape clearly have a large effect on horn performance,” McCullough noted last month at the Animal Behavior Society meeting at Princeton University, where she presented the results of the study. “These results are really exciting because they illustrate the critical link between form and function.”
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FAQ
What kind of beetle has horns?
Dynastinae or rhinoceros beetles are a subfamily of the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae). Other common names – some for particular groups of rhinoceros beetles – include Hercules beetles, unicorn beetles or horn beetles. Over 1,500 species and 225 genera of rhinoceros beetles are known.
Are rhinoceros beetles harmful?
Rhino Beetles have a very unique appearance, but don’t judge a rhino on its looks. Even though they have big forked horns and tight gripping claws, they aren’t strong enough or mean enough to hurt a human.
Do horned beetles sting?
Incidentally, a long-horned beetle has been discovered in Peru that actually stings – the only beetle known to do so. Even better, it stings with its antennae!Aug 2, 2011
Are Hercules beetles in the US?
Dynastes tityus, the eastern Hercules beetle, is a species of rhinoceros beetle native to the Eastern United States. The adult’s elytra are green, gray or tan, with black markings, and the whole animal, including the male’s horns, may reach 60 mm (2.4 in) in length.
Do ox beetles have horns?
The ox beetle is a type of rhinoceros beetle that has not one, not two, but three horns! Male beetles have two horns behind their head and a larger horn in the center. While female beetles don’t have any horns, they do have small bumps called tubercles where horns would normally be. 2. Goliath Beetles
What are the different types of beetles with horns?
Atlas Beetles are among the most popular types of beetles with horns based on their appearance. These beetles are large, commonly reaching a length of over 4 inches. 3 long horns are specific to the species. These are long curved horns used to flip and grab opponents efficiently.
Do elephant beetles have horns?
Elephant Beetles are some of the largest types of beetles with horns in the world. Found in Central and Southern America, this is a species that may grow to 5 inches. These types of beetles have one very long horn connected to the prothorax and one very short horn connected to its head, often barely visible.
What animals are horned beetles?
Find your favorite Animals! The horned beetle goes by many names, like rhinoceros, elephant, and atlas beetle. They are large insects with a very unique shape. They consist of around 1,500 species and 225 genera, but the most popular species are the Japanese rhinoceros beetle, atlas beetle, ox beetle, coconut beetle, and Eastern Hercules beetle.
What bugs have horns?
One of the common bright types of bugs with horns, Grant’s Hercules Beetle (Dynastes grantii) is a common species in North America. This beetle feeds on ash trees and can even damage them. It avoids predation by its bright color with or without spots that mimic bright tree bark. This is a bug with 2 horns.
Are beetles with horns aggressive?
Beetles with horns can use their horns to injure their opponents or to flip them over. Some beetles with horns raised in captivity are so aggressive they cannot be bred in the same container as they can kill each other constantly fighting with their horns. Here are some of the most common types of beetles with horns around the world 1.